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08/30

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St. Louis Sam’s Club Donates $20,000 To St. Louis Minority Supplier Development Council

BENTONVILLE, Ark., Aug. 30, 2011 – Sam’s Club announced today it is donating $20,000 to the St. Louis Minority Supplier Development Council (St. Louis MSDC), as the result of a campaign held during National Small Business Week. The contributions will be presented Aug. 30, and will be used to help fund teaching and training programs offered by MSDC in St. Louis that enhance minority small business success.

The national Sam’s Club campaign resulted in 11 local donations across the U.S., which were determined by the number of volunteer hours logged by club and market managers working in small businesses in their communities. Market membership sales manager Jonathan Sadler, along with area club managers and associates, earned the right to award one of these donations in St. Louis.

“We are proud to give this $20,000 to our community for small business resources,” said Sadler. “We know this donation will enhance the work of St. Louis MSDC in that they offer our minority businesses training and development programs, certifications, marketing support, and more. They also provide services that match minority vendors with area companies who purchase their goods and services.”
 
Members of the St. Louis MSDC and the leadership team from the local Sam’s Club will be on hand for the check presentation at 10 a.m., Aug. 30, at the MSDC office located at 308 N. 21st St., Ste. 700, St. Louis.
 
“We feel fortunate to be the recipients of this substantial donation that will allow us to grow our programs,” said Luis Ortiz, of the St. Louis MSDC. “Since our founding, St. Louis MSDC has served hundreds of minority businesses, assisting them in growing their businesses to the benefit of the St. Louis regional economy.  For our corporate partners, St. Louis MSDC serves as a key conduit for the execution of supplier diversity programs. At the same time, we act as advocates for Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and look for multiple avenues to ensure that their businesses continue to grow over time. Today, our MBEs generate more than $3.2 billion in revenues and account for nearly 8,400 jobs in the region.” 
 
About Sam’s Club
Sam’s Club, a division of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT), is the nation’s eighth largest retailer and a leading membership warehouse club offering superior products and services to more than 47 million members in clubs across the U.S., as well as in Brazil, China and Mexico. Members save an average of 30 percent over traditional retailers. To learn more about Savings Made SimpleSM, visit SamsClub.com, and look for Sam’s Club on Twitter and Facebook.
 
Sam’s Club Giving
Sam’s Club supports community-based programs that empower young people, families and small businesses to make smart choices that lead to healthy and bright futures. During the fiscal year that ended Jan. 31, 2011, on behalf of Sam’s Club, the Walmart Foundation gave more than $89 million in cash and in-kind gifts to support local U.S. organizations focusing on education, health and children’s programs. To learn more, visit http://www.samsclub.com/giving.